Computational Biology

Networks in protein sequence space, based on a biophysical model that has been applied extensively in the study of protein evolution. The image here shows a supernet of sequences (background) that is made up of interconnecting neutral nets (top). Neutral nets are often superfunnels, or basins of attraction in evolution (middle). The bottom drawing shows a real-life example of conformational switches between two superfunnels. Image created by Tobias Sikosek and Hue Sun Chan.

Biochemical research programs are becoming increasingly reliant on adopting computer-based approaches. Of particular significance is the integration and visualization of so-called “big data”‘ – datasets ranging from tens of terabytes to petabytes associated with the recent emergence of metabolomic and next-generation sequencing platforms.

With access to sophisticated computing platforms featuring tens of thousands of processors, many faculty members develop and apply bioinformatics and modelling tools across a wide variety of research topics including:

Sequencing and analysing the genomes of phage, viruses, bacteria and parasites

Modeling macromolecular structure and function

Investigating the organization and dynamics of biochemical pathways

Understanding the evolution of genes and genomes

Identifying the relationships between a microbiome and its environment